The explanation of the cover, below, is for information purposes and does not represent a legal definition.  Any club or NZOF member acting for the NZOF or their affiliated club requiring more precise information should contact the:
NZOF General Manager
Stuart Payne
171A Fifield Tce
Christchurch 8002
Ph. 0-3-337 2275
Email. nzof@nzorienteering.com

Some broad explanations
Public Liability
A Public Liability policy indemnifies the Insured against legal liability for any unexpected damage to property or bodily injury to third parties.  It is principally concerned with liabilities that are civil wrongs for which the remedy is a common law action for unliquidated damages.

The majority of claims arise out of “negligence” which has been defined as the omission to do something which a reasonable person would do, guided by those considerations which ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs.  Alternatively it is something which a prudent and reasonable person would not do.  This applies only where there is a duty to take care.  Sometimes claims arise out of “nuisance” which is the “interference with the enjoyment of the land”.  This includes such interference in use and enjoyment by water, fire, smoke, smells, fumes, gas, heat, electricity, disease or any other like thing which may cause such interference.

Products Liability
A Products Liability policy extends a general Public Liability policy by providing cover for the Insured’s legal liability related to the supply of goods.  “Suppliers of goods” may incur liability as a result of the goods causing injury, illness, loss or damage.
 

The NZOF Public Liability Insurance policy covers the following:

• PUBLIC AND PRODUCTS LIABILITY
• PUNITIVE AND EXEMPLARY DAMAGES
• FOREST AND RURAL FIRES ACT.

PUBLIC AND PRODUCTS LIABILITY
Provides cover for bodily injury and/or property damage resulting from the organisation and/or conduct of an orienteering event (including coaching and training events).

Bodily injury includes:

1. accidental death or sickness, disease, disability, shock, fright, mental anguish or mental injury to a person
2. false arrest or false imprisonment
3. defamation
4. wrongful entry or eviction
5. Battery or assault.

There are however some general exclusions and these include liability arising from the ownership, possession, repair operation or use by the Insured of any Vehicle, registered for road use when the bodily injury or property damage occurred.  [In such cases public liability is deemed to be covered by the vehicle owner’s personal motor vehicle insurance policy.]
 

PUNITIVE AND EXEMPLARY DAMAGES
Provides cover for damages and legal costs awarded against the federation or its representative(s) arising from the organisation and/or conduct of an orienteering event (including coaching and training events).

There are exclusions, however, including where the federation or its representative(s) have acted dishonestly, fraudulently or maliciously.
 

FOREST AND RURAL FIRES ACT
Provides cover for:

1. levies imposed by a fire authority under the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977
2. liability for costs incurred by any other party in protecting their property from fire.

The above applies whether property damage occurs or not.